Use of alkyl glycosides as agents for inhibiting microbial growth and compositions containing them

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of an alkyl glycoside or of a mixture of at least two alkyl glycosides as agent intended for inhibiting microbial growth, in particular in a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or food composition.

1. A method for inhibiting microbial growth in a composition comprising incorporating in the composition, an agent comprising a mixture of at least two alkyl glycosides, wherein said mixture comprises
 at least one first alkyl glycoside that is methyl beta-D-maltoside, methyl beta-D-maltotrioside, or a mixture thereof 
 and at least one second alkyl glycoside of formula I:
   (S)—O—R  I
 
 wherein S is a sugar unit or an oligosaccharide formed of a sequence of 2 to 8 identical or different sugar units and R is an alkyl group comprising from 8 to 24 carbon atoms. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition is a cosmetic composition. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition is a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition is a food composition. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent is present in an amount effective for inhibiting microbial growth. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein R is an alkyl group comprising from 8 to 16 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein R is a dodecyl group. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1  wherein S is an oligosaccharide formed of a sequence of 2 sugar units (disaccharide) or of 3 sugar units (trisaccharide). 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each sugar unit is a pentose or hexose-containing reducing sugar, or a derivative thereof that is a uronic derivative, a sulphate derivative, or a deoxy derivative. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each sugar unit is arabinose, xylose, ribose, glucose, galactose, mannose, rhamnose, or fucose. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each sugar unit is D-glucose. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein S is an oligosaccharide that is maltose, cellobiose, lactose, fructose, maltotriose, or cellotriose. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the oligosaccharide is beta-D-maltose, beta-D-maltotriose, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each sugar unit is a dextrorotatory sugar. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second alkyl glycoside is dodecyl beta-L-rhamnoside, dodecyl beta-L-fucoside, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second alkyl glycoside is dodecyl beta-D-maltoside or dodecyl beta-D-maltotrioside. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises of two alkyl glycosides in a relative weight ratio of between 1/99 and 99/1. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the agent is formed by methyl beta-D-maltoside and an alkyl glycoside formed of a sequence of 3 sugar units. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the agent is formed by methyl beta-D-maltotrioside and an alkyl glycoside formed of a sequence of 2 sugar units. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agent of alkyl glycosides is composed of four alkyl glycosides. 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the four alkyl glycosides are present in the agent in substantially equal proportions by weight ratio. 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the agent is formed by methyl beta-D-maltoside, methyl beta-D-maltotrioside, dodecyl beta-D-maltoside, and dodecyl beta-D maltotrioside. 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkyl glycosides are present in an amount of 0.001% to 10% by weight of the composition containing it.